Scream & Light Up the Sky

The Honorary Title | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000TITOUA
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,167 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Thin Layer

2. Stay Away

3. Untouched and Intact

4. Stuck at Sea

5. Far More

6. Radiate

7. Along the Way

8. Apologize

9. The City's Summer

10. Only One Week

11. Wait Until I'm Gone

12. Even If

Editorial Reviews

Review

"New York emo wordslinger shoots for big guitars and drums, and scores" --Rolling Stone

"Armed with [Jarrod's] elastic, dramatic voice, he and his bandmates leap fearlessly from folksy strumming to Strokes-y pop-punk" --Entertainment Weekly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Indie-rock duo the Honorary Title make their major-label debut with their third album, SCREAM AND LIGHT UP THE SKY. With more of a full-band sound than their indie recordings, courtesy of big-name producer Rob Schnapf (Beck), Jarrod Gorbel and Aaron Kamstra open up their previous bare-bones blend of folk and emo-tinged indie rock into a sound that's closer to a more aggressive version of the Shins or the Decemberists. Highlights include the snarky first single "Untouched and Intact." A personal and intimate record containing songs about how relationships linger, break down, and begin anew. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Light Up" my life, August 30, 2007

By 

A. O'Connor - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scream & Light Up the Sky (Audio CD)

It seems to be a recurring event; it happened last week with Rilo Kiley and now this week with Brooklyn-based The Honorary Title. Abandoning your signature sound for a more radio-friendly one can either be a disaster (Liz Phair) or a step forward in creative development. Luckily, The Honorary Title finds firm footing in a broader sound that embraces the band's pop sensibilities.

The album opens humbly with lyrically driven anthems "Thin Layer" and "Stay Away" but immediately kicks into gear with "Untouched and Intact", the album's first single. "Stuck at Sea" is a perfect example of THT's new sound: ambient, area-friendly, and virtually free of acoustic intimacy. As "Far More" proves, the album is essentially a balancing act: maintaining a sound that suits Jarrod Gorbel's vocals and lyrics but simultaneously augmenting that very sound.

"Radiate" is grand affair while "Along the Way" is a beautiful return to the days of THT's "Disengage" - both catchy and spare. And just when you think you know where this album is going "The City Summer" arrives. It's the song that could possibly propel THT into the mainstream. The song even opens with a "Na Na Na Na..." chorus. Even indie-elitists won't be able to deny this one. "Only One Week" and "Wait Until I'm Gone" recall the quiet melancholy of Anything Else but the Truth, providing a great showcase for Jarrod Gorbel's heartfelt vocals. Closing the album is "Even If", a gorgeous new type of THT intimacy that's easy to embrace, even love.

Lyrically, THT have never been more consistent. Their songs have always contained both cynicism and depth but Scream and Light up the Sky contains the strongest hooks of their career. Produced by Rob Schnapf, who has worked with Elliott Smith and Beck, The Honorary Title greatly expands their sound without abandoning their trademark style. Jarrod Gorbel's haunting vocals and deep confessionals sound better than ever on an album that, instead of taming their sound, makes it louder, more defined, and more polished. Even armed with a newly engaging, radio-friendly sound, The Honorary Title still remains a quality band, with all of its golden traits untouched and intact.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New, full-band sound anchored with singer/songwriter roots., December 22, 2007

By 

Daniel Spratlin "THE Daniel Spratlin™" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scream & Light Up the Sky (Audio CD)

When the Honorary Title released Anything Else But The Truth in 2004, singer/guitarist Jarrod Gorbel and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Kamstra were an acoustic duo. After several years of playing live, their sound naturally grew to require a full band, with Jonathan Wiley contributing electric guitars and Adam Boyd (ex-the Format) providing the backbeat. If fans of the singer/songwriter formula that graced Truth are worried Gorbel's personal and poignant stories will be lost among the noise, they can put their fears to rest. Playing with a full band, Gorbel's distinct, powerfully emotional vocals have never sounded fuller on Scream And Light Up The Sky. Ranging from vibrant pop-punk ("Untouched") to acoustic balladry ("Even If") to indie-flecked rockers ("Apologize"), each song contains a hook as prominent as the hipster scene in the band's native Brooklyn. While incredibly catchy, a closer listen reveals the dark themes of failed relationships, meaningless sex, inevitable change and mental anguish. "Stay Away" finds Gorbel wailing, "If you're using me/Do it slowly/Make it last until I have to go," and the haunting "Don't you think I'm lonely/Eager to complete the story/Confused and still haunted with why you'd start over" on "Even If" are just two examples of the longing, confusion and heartbreak that pepper the disc. In the end, the Honorary Title prove singing your sorrow really is cathartic.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, October 25, 2007

By 

Aaron Kruglyak "Spiral" (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scream & Light Up the Sky (Audio CD)

If you already were a fan and enjoy Anything Else But the Truth hundreds I cant imagine being disappointed by this album. I just bought it a week ago because I didn't even realize they had released a new album. I suspect this is the case with many of their fans as I have never seen much promotion anywhere for these guys, but they definitely deserve it. Gorbel, the vocalist, manages to sound even better on this album. The songs are slightly more complex, the arrangements a little bit more grand. I would not at all say this is more of a pop record or radio friendly as I see other reviews saying. However, the production quality has definitely been upped so it does sound a little more slick. This is great music and anybody who liked good indie rock will love this. IF you like Spoon you will like this. And if you cant stand Dashboard Confessionals you will still love this.